Who was Ralph Braun?

Ralph was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a young boy in 1947. Doctors told his parents he’d never be independent, but both Ralph and his parents were determined to prove them wrong. In the next few years, Ralph lost his ability to walk. At a young age, he set his mind to engineering the first battery-powered scooter. From there he designed the world’s first wheelchair lift, installed in an old postal jeep and complete with hand controls. Necessity is the mother of invention, and Ralph’s physical limitations only served to fuel his determination to live independently and prove to society that people with physical disabilities can participate fully and actively in life.

What started as a personal drive to keep independent evolved into BraunAbility, the leading manufacturer of mobility products across the globe. Ralph passed away in 2013 at the age of 72, but not before he launched the mobility movement. BraunAbility proudly carries on our founder’s legacy today.

LifeLessons

5 Lessons From Ralph

The story goes that one Friday afternoon Ralph Braun wheeled down to the assembly line and picked one of the newly built vans to test drive over the weekend. He asked a foreman for the keys, and the startled employee stuttered, “Well, Mr. Braun…I guess I didn’t know you’d be taking this van.”

Ralph turned to the man and said, “Would you have built it any differently if you had?”

It was a teachable moment for the foreman and, as the story was told again and again, for the generations of employees to follow. “Build every van like you’re building it for me, or your own mother, or for your son – because some day you may have to,” he’d say.

For many years, if you’d call our headquarters and ask to speak to Mr. Braun, there was a good chance he’d answer the phone. Ralph was accessible to his customers. He listened, and then he acted. In turn, we learned how to respect our customers and earn their trust still today.

Ralph had every opportunity in the world to make excuses for himself – why he couldn’t go to school or get a job or even get out of bed in the morning. But he never made excuses for himself. Instead, he built an entire industry and made automotive accessibility a reality in American society.

When you report to a man like that, you don’t make excuses. As one of his earliest employees and close friends says, “Rarely were excuses necessary. Ralph was a master at motivating people. He was gifted with a character that made people want to do great things.”

Over the past 40 years, we’ve learned a little something about setting expectations for our company, our products, our life – and exceeding them. We have every intention of making the impossible possible in mobility – just like Ralph did. No excuses.

“So what’s the secret to your success?”

It was common for Ralph to be asked this question, and you could expect the same reply: “I surround myself with good people – and then I get out of the way.”

As part of the team he built, we heard these words often. It was a little unreal to believe that he felt like we could do the work that would live up to his standards.

But then again, Ralph was used to relying on people. He couldn’t do everything for the company or even for himself. Ralph relied on his team of caregivers and family and employees to help him through a day – and a life. Those people had to be skilled and qualified – but most importantly they had to share his values and a vision of a customer-focused culture. Ralph is gone, but our team remains – and we’re working harder than ever toward his vision.

Here’s a story that was only shared after Ralph passed away: in his late 50s, long after his company was leading the mobility industry, Ralph decided he wasn’t a strong public speaker. It bothered him, and he knew as CEO of a growing company, he would be called upon to speak again and again.

He decided to go back to college and take a course in Public Speaking. Two nights a week for a full semester, he drove himself an hour away from his home to a local college. Imagine the contrast: a room full of 19-year-old college students and one older man in a motorized scooter.

He loved that class, and he learned. In fact, he was voted by his class as one of two contenders for their end-of-year speech competition. Ralph beamed with pride over the honor, and asked his family to come watch him that evening.

Whatever he could do to make his company or himself better as a leader – he did it, and he reminded us that success in life can breed complacency. In Ralph’s mind, there was no greater sin than believing improvement had a finish line.

Ralph faced enormous obstacles in his life, but he believed in the ability God gave him. He didn’t set out to blaze a trail as a mobility pioneer. He set out to show his doctors he didn’t need to be institutionalized. He set out to show a school system that students with physical disabilities deserve to be educated. He set out to prove the banks wrong who would not loan money to a man in a wheelchair.

As he fought and won again and again and again, he did what incredible leaders do. He made us ask, “Why not me?”

Why not? That God-given ability is different for each of us, but it’s there. We can use it to fight the battles, to blaze the trails, to be the difference between status quo and a better way of life. Just like Ralph did.

Put the Customer First

No Excuses

Surround Yourself with Good People

Never Stop Improving

Believe In Your God Given Ability

TheStory

Rise Above

Ralph has left a permanent legacy in the mobility community and will be remembered as a true pioneer of accessibility. He wrote his autobiography, Rise Above, to tell the story of the challenges he faced as a young man – not only from his physical challenges, but from the limitations society placed on individuals with disabilities as well. All proceeds from the book are donated to the Ralph Braun Foundation to help make mobility more affordable to those who need it.

OurHistory1974

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Ralph Braun’s early life helped build the mobility industry as we know it today. It all started with a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy at the young age of 6. His parents instilled in him the will to overcome the challenges his disability presented him. When he could no longer rely on his own two legs and he’d outgrown piggyback rides from his dad, he began using a wheelchair.

1960's

1962

First Motorized Wheelchair

Ralph Braun built his first motorized wheelchair in his cousin’s farm shop in 1962, never dreaming his company would turn into a world-renowned industry leader and improve thousands of lives.

Save-A-Step

Ralph began building Tri-Wheelers in his parents’ garage under the name Save-A-Step Manufacturing Company.

1963

1966

World’s First Wheelchair Lift

Ralph equips an old Post Office Jeep with a custom-built hydraulic tailgate lift along with homemade hand controls.

1970's

Lift-A-Way Wheelchair Lift

Chrysler introduces the full-size van. Ralph builds the precursor to the Lift-A-Way wheelchair lift to fit this revolutionary vehicle.

1970

1972

The Braun Corporation

Save-A-Step Manufacturing Company incorporates as The Braun Corporation with just five employees.

Growing Demand

Braun expands its main production building and additional buildings are constructed to meet the growing demand of lifts and Tri-Wheelers.

1975

1979

Fire Tragedy

A devastating fire sweeps through Braun Corporate Headquarters.

1980's

Upward and Onward

Shortly after the fire of ’79, the manufacturing facility is rebuilt and new corporate offices are constructed.

1980

1984

Swing-A-Way Wheelchair Lift

An innovative Swing-A-Way wheelchair lift is introduced – the first new lift product of the decade.

Demand and Expansion

To meet the growing demand, Braun invests heavily in new manufacturing technologies and facilities. A third plant opens, dramatically increasing Braun’s capabilities.

1989

1990's

1990

Americans with Disabilities Act

Americans with Disabilities Act is made law, opening the door to public transportation for people with physical disabilities.

The Entervan Arrives

Modern Manufacturing

A modern vehicle assembly building is opened, housing production lines for the Entervan and Paratransit vans.

2000's

Strict Quality Control

Braun continues to invest in state-of-the art manufacturing technology, building the majority of components in-house for strict quality control.

2003

2008

Brand Evolution

The BraunAbility brand is introduced as the name of the consumer mobility products, now available at over 200 dealer locations nationwide. In 2013 the name will extend over all divisions, including commercial, international and taxi markets.

2010's

International Expansion

BraunAbility made two important acquisitions: one adding a new category of rear-entry wheelchair vans; and secondly an investment in Autoadapt, further expanding the company’s international outreach.

2011

2013

Carrying on the Legacy

Ralph Braun passed away at the age of 72, but leaves behind a hand-selected leadership team and dedicated staff who share his vision and his values.

All illustrations, descriptions and specifications found on this website are based on the latest information available. The Braun Corporation and BraunAbility reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice and disclaim any liability resulting from the use of the information found herein.

Starting MSRP excludes destination freight, tax, title, license, registration, document, processing & handling fees. Price based on MSRP base model and does not include optional equipment not included on those models. Destination charges and actual dealer prices may vary. Consult your dealer for actual price and complete details. All pricing shown is in US dollars.

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The Model & Serial Number can be found on the label on the arm of your wheelchair lift or on the pump housing.

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BraunAbility Reference Material Information/Usage Guide

BraunAbility is pleased to offer reference material such as manuals, instructions and other items at no charge to our customers.

Since the material is for reference only, there is some information that we would like to ensure is understood.

This material is for reference only. BraunAbility insists that you contact an authorized factory trained BraunAbility dealer to service your BraunAbility product. Please call the BraunAbility Customer Experience Group at 1-800-488-0359 to locate your nearest dealer.

Please review the “worry-free” warranty on the back cover of any BraunAbility product manual. It clearly indicates that the warranty is void if service work is performed by an unauthorized person.

If your BraunAbility vehicle conversion is in need of service, please contact your nearest BraunAbility service center before taking the vehicle to the manufacture dealership. Please remember that additional costs incurred at the vehicle manufacturer dealership will be your responsibility.